Press Release 2

The following news report is timed to coincide with the distribution of
issue 65 of 'Time Space Visualiser' (the journal of the New Zealand
Doctor Who Fan Club), which contains the first publication of the
following news:

LOST WEB OF FEAR CLIPS DISCOVERED IN NEW ZEALAND

Three years after the discovery of 'The Crusade' Episode 1 in January
1999, a second 'Doctor Who' film find has been made in New Zealand. Just
over a minute of lost Troughton era film clips have been unearthed, as
part of a collection of over six minutes of 1960s 'Doctor Who', held by a
film collector.

The 16mm film footage includes excerpts from 'The Ark', 'The Web of Fear'
and 'The Wheel in Space'. The clips from these last two stories are of
particular interest, as they feature brief segments from otherwise missing
episodes. The majority of the scenes from missing episodes come from
Episode 4 of 'The Web of Fear', but also included are scenes from
Episodes 2 and 5, and Episode 5 of 'The Wheel in Space'.

'The Web of Fear' footage contains segments featuring the Doctor, Jamie,
Victoria, and Professor and Anne Travers. Other segments show the Yeti
in confrontation with the army, including one in which Colonel
Lethbridge-Stewart is briefly visible. The footage from 'The Wheel in
Space' is a collection of cuts to a fight scene between crewman Flannigan
and two Cyber-controlled colleagues.

The discovery was made by Wellington 'Doctor Who' fan Graham Howard whilst
helping to catalogue a collection of film reels. The clips are censor
cuts that were made to the episodes before transmission by the New Zealand
Broadcasting Corporation (NZBC). Unlike the Australian censor clips
located in 1996, there does not appear to have been a statutory
obligation in New Zealand to preserve the censored film clips. The footage
was evidently discarded, before finding its way into private hands, along
with edits from many other TV series from the late 1960s and early 1970s.

The full story behind the discovery, including detailed descriptions of
each of the Doctor Who clips and off-screen photos, appears in issue 65
(May 2002) of TSV (Time Space Visualiser), the journal of the New Zealand
Doctor Who Fan Club (www.doctorwho.org.nz)

Screen grabs

A Yeti has entered the Fortress, killed Weams and now threatens Professor Travers

The Doctor, Jamie and Victoria (obscured), return from the tunnels to the fortress to discover bodies covered in cobweb.

Evans clutches his ears as the web pulsates and emits an ear-splitting electronic wail.

Two soldiers from Lethbridge-Stewart's party fire at advancing Yeti at a road junction near Covent Garden

Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart and another soldier hide on top of a market stall in Covent Garden, attempting to avoid being spotted by a Yeti as it lumbers past them.

Two Cyber-controlled crewmen attack Flannigan

The Yeti advance towards two soldiers in Lethbridge-Stewart's party.

Description of Recovered Clips

What follows is a brief description of those New Zealand censor clips
that are from missing episodes. Timings are approximate. More detailed
descriptions, the story behind their discovery, and additional photos are in
TSV 65.

THE WEB OF FEAR

Episode 2

In a tunnel, two lingering soldiers fire repeatedly at two advancing
Yeti, to no avail. This clip comes from a scene in which Captain Knight's
platoon salvage ammunition from a supply truck, only to be attacked by the
Yeti. (14 seconds)

Episode 4

The Yeti approaches Professor Travers and strikes him down. Anne rushes
from another room to where her father is, but is also struck down. This clip
comes from the start of the episode, resolving the Episode 3 cliffhanger in
which the Yeti kills Weams and looms over Travers. (12 seconds)

The Doctor, Jamie, Victoria and Evans enter the unguarded fortress.
Victoria discovers bodies covered in web. The others come and see the bodies
too. (10 seconds)Note: in the TSV article I indicated that there was only a body
singular, however, on closer examination, there appears to be another body
under the web.

In a tunnel the fungus-like web is pulsating and emitting an ear-splitting
electronic wail. Private Evans is clutching his ears. A scream is heard, then
another louder scream. This clip comes after Arnold and Lane push a baggage
trolley through a web-covered tunnel, with Evans holding a rope attached to
the trolley. (4 seconds)

Two soldiers from Lethbridge-Stewart's party fire at Yeti at a road
junction near Covent Garden. The Yeti recoil slightly as the bullets hit, but
keep on advancing. (5 seconds)

Shots of Yeti, followed by shots of two soldiers being smothered as the
Yeti fire their web guns. (7 seconds)

Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart and another soldier hide on top of a market
stall in Covent Garden, as they attempt to avoid being spotted by a Yeti as it
lumbers past them. (3 seconds)

Episode 5

Victoria and Professor Travers attempt to slip away from the Yeti that is
guarding them, but it instantly comes to life, and roars. Victoria screams.
(2 seconds)